man who snatched the bag was a stranger."

"He may have been employed by another," Penny suggested.

Amy was decidedly uneasy in the presence of Hanley Cron and the
policeman, fearing that at any moment some reference might be made to
the stolen painting. She could not understand why the art critic
remained silent since he had threatened to expose her.

Hearing the whining whistle of a squad car arriving from police
headquarters, the girls quietly slipped away. Cron made no move to
detain them, even though Amy retained possession of the Black Imp.

"Why do you suppose Hanley Cron didn't try to make trouble?" Penny
asked as they walked swiftly along the street toward Amy's rooming
house. "I felt certain he would."

"So did I. I guess he knew he had no right to copy the Black Imp."

"He was probably afraid he might get himself into trouble," Penny
chuckled. "Either that, or he didn't want to make a scene in front of
Mrs. Dillon."

"It's queer about the statue," Amy said musingly. "I can't understand
what he intended to do with it."

She took the Black Imp from her pocket and examined it critically. The
damp clay was slightly misshapen from rough handling. They sat down on
a park bench while Amy deftly moulded it back into its original form.

"It should make a fairly nice figure when it dries," she remarked.

"Why don't you try to sell the Black Imp to some commercial firm?"
Penny asked abruptly. "It seems to me it has possibilities. It's such
a cute little figure."

"Perhaps I will try later on," Amy agreed. "But until my name is
cleared I haven't much chance to do anything."

"That's true," Penny acknowledged. "What are you going to do with this
copy of the statue?"

"Oh, I don't know. Would you like it?"

"Would I? Rather! But don't you want it yourself?"

"No, I have the original if ever I muster the courage to go to the
museum and claim it."

"I'd love to have the reproduction," Penny declared enthusiastically.
"Only I wish you had made it instead of Hanley Cron."

"I'll make you a nicer piece later on," Amy promised as she wrapped up
the figure in her handkerchief and gave it to Penny.

Presently, after discussing at some length the exciting events of the
afternoon, they arose and walked on down the street. They were nearing
the downtown business section when Penny halted and pretended to gaze
into the plate glass window of a large department store.

"Amy, I think we're being f